Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-02
yyOODLAwX FARMERS CLUE.
fReported for the Alcxnndria GAZETrE.)

Reported for the Alexandria GAzETTE)
The 21sg anniversary OF the Woodlawn
Farmers C!ao was held at the Woodlawn
Mansion on ths 9th of August The threat
ening weather caused smaller attendance
than usual, though there were quito num-
Der of strangers present.
President Pierson, from the committee to
which had been referred the subject OF re-
vision OF the tariff on agricultural products,
read report which recommended al in
crease OF the rates on wool, hemp. eggs, to-
5acco, rice, sumac, preserved fruits, and
other productions 10 such al extent as to
protect and encourage home industry.
There was considerable discussion on the
subject as to how far it was wise to extend
this protection to afford en- equitable adjust
ment of the matter between producer and
consumer, but the report was finally adopt
ed and the secretary directed to forward 1t
10 the N. Y. Tribune in response TO the cir
cu'ar sent out.
The secretary reported that he had ascer-
taiaed from the Agricultural Department
the insects alluded to at the last meeting
were known as "trogosita mauritanlca," or
the "cadelle." They are common III the
south of France and quite numerous il this
country. In the larvae state they eat the
outside of the grain of wheat, and pass
ing from one to another inJure more
than they consume. They do the
greatest mischief at tho end OF winter
when they are full grown, about two.tbirds
Of an inch long. In the beetle form, which Is
about haif the length of the worm, they
are carniVorous and make some amends ior
the mischief they have hitherto done, by
destroying the grain weevil. If the grain
is put IN o tight bin and the bisulphate Of
carbon placed ia saucer on the top cf il
;.e insects will be destroyed. This Sub
stance is very inlamable and no light should
be brought near IT.
The Improvement of the road to AleXsn
dria 10 mere thorough manner than the
limited amount of road tax would allow,
was again preached but for want of time was
deferred to next meeting; the proposed ave
nue. fro,a Washington to Mount Vernon was
spoken of as being the very thing to solve the
problem. and it was earnestly hoped by ali
present that tho matter would result IN
something more than newspaper talk.
Il. u Mason stated that an old claim had
been presented at the last meeting Of the
Board Of Supervisors of this county for ex
pensas in oquipping the militia at The cut.
break of the civil war. As every taxpayer
was vitally Interested in the matter he
moved that committee he appointed to in
vestigate the same, which met with unani-
nous approval, and the following were ap-
pointed E. E. Mason, o. e. Hine and JOB
Hawxburst.
This being the annual meeting an cleo
ton of officers was held with the following
result: n w. Person, president; W. Gil
lngham, secretary; D. P. Smith, treasurer.
The next meeting will BIO at Courtland Lu-
kens', October ]. Subject for discussion,
concentrated VS.. Expansive Farming"
Critical committee: J. w. Roberts, j. n.
Gibbs and I. w. Blunt.
In the evening Prof o. T. Mason IVES
asked TO make some remarks, and began by
stating that the query was put 10 him in
the afternoon as to who would be likely to
succeed Prof. Baird at the Smithsonian In.
stitute, and upon his reply that it would
"Who is Prof. Langley?n As there might
be others there who were not familiar with
his attainments, he would try and answer
that question in some degree. After some
preliminary statements as 10 his antecedents
he gave very interesting account of the
wonderful achievements of Prof. Langley in
the field of inorganic science, explaining the
extraordinary strides he had made in deyel-
oping the powers of the spectroscope in con-
nection with the determination of the COM
position of the more remote heavenly bodies
and of the very advanced position he had
taken as physicist. A vote Of thanks was
given Prof Mason for his interesting ad
dress, and the company dispersed.
w. GILLINGHAM, Secretary.